276 THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF THE PEACE CH.

or not the form of communism represented by-Soviet government proves permanently suited to theRussian temperament, the revival of trade, of thecomforts of life and of ordinary economic motive arenot likely to promote the extreme forms, of thosedoctrines of violence and tyranny which are thechildren of war and of despair.

Let us .then in our Russian policy not onlyapplaud and imitate the policy of non-interventionwhich the Government of Germany has announced,but, desisting from a blockade which is injurious toour own permanent interests, as well as illegal, letus encourage and assist Germany to take up againher place in Europe as a creator and organiser ofwealth for her Eastern and Southern neighbours.

There are many persons in whom such proposalswill raise strong prejudices. I ask them to followout in thought the result of yielding to theseprej udices. If we oppose in detail every meansby which Germany or Russia can recover theirmaterial well-being, because we feel a national, racial,or political hatred for their populations or theirGovernments, we must be prepared to face the con-sequences of such feelings. Even if there is no moralsolidarity between the nearly-related races of Europe ,there is an economic solidarity which we cannot dis-regard. Even now, the world markets are one. Ifwe do not allow Germany to exchange products withRussia and so feed herself, she must inevitably